PHILOSOPHY

New research confirms that children are born altruistic. What this means is that people are basically good, that we are hardwired to connect and to love and be loved. Some people have the philosophy that people are evil and need to be trained to be good, or do good. I believe it is often this thinking that hinders people from reaching their potential for joy. I believe that joy is our birthright.

I work with people to understand the underlying (often unconscious) beliefs that hold them back from reaching their dreams and creating fulfilling relationships. 

Together we safely explore and work on your negative thoughts, replacing them with empowering tools to bring you to a place of harnessing your energy to achieve your life goals. 

I am holistic, understanding how our bodies and minds work together to inform and guide us. In most cases, people do not need medications to calm themselves or to find their inner joy. 

Research now finds that medications mask our emotions. In order to heal, we need  to access our emotions, not medicate them. In the safety of therapy, you can release emotion that is overwhelming to you, and learn new ways to accept and learn from your emotions. 

Best cure for depression? According to research: exercise and talk therapy. Exercise releases endorphins; therapy allows you to put words to feelings, and create safe connections-- which new research shows is healing. 
EDUCATION  

M.A. Human Development, Neuroscience and Psychotherapy, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, 2011 

M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, 2009

Internship completed at The Bridge for Youth, working with homeless youth and families in crisis. 

Licensed marriage & family therapist (LMFT).

Extended training in emotion focused therapy.

I have a meditation practice, and have been studying spirituality and it's impact on people's lives for years, and so, invite clients to share their spiritual lives as part of the therapeutic process. 

Carl Rogers, founder of the humanistic psychology movement, revolutionized psychotherapy with his concept of client-centered therapy and coined the phrase 
" unconditional positive regard" to explain the way he held out hope and respect for each person he encountered.  I embrace and work from this client-centered concept.   
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL TRAINING & PRESENTATIONS 

  • Discernment Counseling training with Dr. William Doherty, June 2015; Discernment Counseling with Mixed Agenda Couples.             
  • Presenter, MN Counseling Association Conference, October 2014;  Neuroscience & Psychotherapy.                                 
  • Inservice presenter,  Headway Emotional Health Services, August 2014; An Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation. 
  • Presenter & Co-facilitator at Women & Spirituality Conference, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN; 2009-2013.
  • Meditation & Lecture on the Chemistry of Joy, Dr. Henry Emmons, 2011
  • Joy of Living, Level I: Meditation Training, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, & guest lecturer, Richard Davidson, Ph.D. (Neuroscientist at UW),  2010 
  • Bill O’Hanlon, MFT, Workshop/Seminar,  2010 
  • Creative Leadership Development, Wendy Morris, Creative Leadership Studio,  2009
  • Possibilities Seminar with Bill O’Hanlon, MFT, Truchas, New Mexico, 2008
  • Non violent Communication Seminar with Marshall Rosenberg,  2008 
  • Narrative Approaches with Youth and Families with Narrative Theory founder; Michael White,  2007

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